Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-07-22
Communicated.
SrnINGDALE, Va, July :, ls-7,

SrENGDALE, Va, July ,, Isl.
EDITOR OF nEuALD:-ln last weeks
HERALD | notice Job, Of Free State, inqulr-
ing to what purpose the road tax money
is applied.
If he is as patient as some Of us in the
lower part of the county have been IN
waiting for good roads, he certainly well
deserves the name Of job.
Among many Of our people the road
seems to be a kind of nuisance, when the
necessary labor il expected and required
Of Them to keep the roads in good condi-
tion. They usually become indifferent
about that time.
Then, too, if there il boy in the whole
country lac is gotten ont to 90 on the road
to fill the place Of a man often who can
do twice the work Of the boy. In tact the
time spent upon the road by many is often
considered waste Of time. or kind OF
holiday-gciting on late and leaving early
and doing bnt little while on the road
How can wo expect to have good roads
with such interest taken in the repairing
Of our roads, and very often, too, the
ovcr.ccr is careless and Indifferent, and
consequently few men are expected to do
much under the leadership of n man who
takes but little interest in the road him
self.
Then, there is the commissioner of roads,
whose duty il is to visit the roads twice a
year and sec that they are in good condl-
ton. Judging from the last few years,
one part Of this county, at least, wonld
have been better of by far had it not had
commissioner Of roads. The policy
seems TO have been one OF "dO nothing
for the people. II seems rs though some
people are desperately afraid Of doing
something to benefit the public when they
are elected for such purpose. 1t seems
like they fear this the first and last grab
at the peoples funds.
What the people want are men who viii
do something for the public. apo Moth
ing" has had his season of reign, and now
let the people declare with one accord
that 'Do Something" shall execute pub-
Die affairs, or not pay anything TO "Do
Nothing"
Many parts Of our roads in this part Of
the county answer for wagon-wrccks in
dry weather. ard when It rains they are
the tributaries to the branches Of the
Shenandoah river, and in real muddy,
snowy weather have known persons to
have to 60 through fields, all because of
inefficient road officials.
These are facts, and not whimper Of
fiction
understand that much Of the road tax
IS applied to the opening Of new roads.
In my opinion such law is a disgrace to
the county, and if any one thinks other
wise let him take an hours ride over some
Of our halffnished old roads. and if he is
not speedily convinced Of the truth Of this
statement, his physical structure Is COM
posed of gumelastic, or he is altogether
insensiblc of the force of gravitation.
OF course, we have many good roads
and road officials, but tins is not intended
for snch; it is for the one whose insigniii-
cance falls below delinquency.
Not long ago man who bad travelled
over several STATES in the West, and who
had been over Clarke and Frederick coun-
ties. told me Of all the bad roads this part
Of Shenandoah beat anything he had ever
seen.
Let me tell you, gentle reader if you
have not the radical u.e Of every muscle
in you, would advise YOU TO keep ont Of
this part Of the county.
If there is to be- now roads. which are
sometimes Necessary, let there he gcner-
al appropriation for them. At present wo
have to pay much OF the road tax to the
opening Of new roads besides frequent and
enormous appropriations.
About onc-half Of the assessed taxes 60
directly for county purposes. Now, how
* this money applied l know that about
20 por cent. goes to the support of the
public schools and a certain portion for
county official purposes, but what becomes
of the balance
Let tho people know it, so ~ 70 vote
more inteligcntly in the future.
FARMER.